Threshold reduction in quantum cascade lasers with partially undoped, dual-wavelength interdigitated cascades

A dual-wavelength quantum cascade (QC) laser with an interdigitated cascade is presented. Aside from providing two-wavelength operation at 8.0 and 9.5mum wavelength, this laser design was used to test the role of extrinsic carriers in the injectors. An interdigitated cascade was grown with undoped injectors bridging 9.5 and 8.0 mum active regions, but doped injectors bridging 8.0 and 9.5 mum active regions. Clear laser action on both wavelengths demonstrates that doping of all injector regions is not a firm requirement for QC lasers. Comparison with a conventionally doped interdigitated cascade QC laser shows a threshold reduction by a factor of approximately 2 for the laser based on the active regions preceded by the undoped injector. This can be understood from the absence or strong reduction of impurity scattering related to the dopant ions. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.